Monday, October 29, 2007

Halloween Rug in Green Mountain Show, Shelburne, VT

Come In, Dearie! (c) Sunnie Andress, 2007
This rug was an absolute delight to do!
I wanted to create a fun rug pattern that my students and others would enjoy hooking if they loved Halloween! (23 x 29 inches) #5, #6, #8 cuts. This is the design that started with my little drawing of the pumpkin-eggplant witch! I used fun colours, leftover worms and planned most of it as I went! I knew I wanted the teal wool for the sky and the pumpkin orange and eggplant purple...but that's how it started! I love to choose colours as I go...and not plan everything beforehand. It's really a perfect way to work for someone who loves surprises like I do! LOL
Happy Halloween! Booooooo!

Autumn Meadow Rug Ready for Green Mountain Show,Shelburne, VT

A- Autumn Meadow - (c) Sunnie Andress 2007
This rug (finished) is in the Green Mountain Rug Hooking Guild's Show at the Shelburne Museum in Vermont November 9th through the 18th, 2007.
I finished it the night before the submission deadline!!!
I am starting a group of rugs...The Sampler Memories Series... featuring the Shepherdess and her sheep. Inspired by old Frakturs and Samplers from the 1700-1800's, I am using fanciful motifs similar to those in the antiques but using them in my own way to make an original design. This rug is 29 by 42 inches and is my largest rug to date. It is all done in #5, #6 and #8 cut wools from various sources, some of my dyed wool and some wonderful as-is plaids!
This rug follows my method of the "unplanned rug", as I design the pattern first and only decide upon one or two colours to start! I choose either a "dark" or "light" background (it doesn't matter what the colours are!) and begin the rug with only a vague idea of where my colour experiments will take me. This is a really fun part of the whole process for me. It wouldn't be nearly as much fun if I colour-planned my rugs before I started!!! I like to be surprised!!!
I am now working on B- Bountiful Harvest, featuring a Shepherdess and her sheep sitting under a large "apple" tree just bursting with "fruit" for the picking. A friendly chicken looking on and a shy deer wanting to share the apples will complete this picture. I already have part of the design for "C" in my head and the design for "T" as well! I can hardly wait to start on those!
But must continue work on my Santas for my Vermont Hand Crafters Show!!!
Happy Autumn-into-Winter!

Sunday, October 14, 2007

Wonderful foliage...Enjoy!

Glorious October!

I love Autumn! Here is what it looks like from our little farmhouse in the beautiful Northeast Kindom of Vermont!
It is always a busy time for me as I prepare for the Vermont Hand Crafters Fine Craft and Art show, November 15th through 18th at the Sheraton Conference Center in Burlington, Vermont. This is the 55th annual show and it is just a delightful experience.

Also, the Green Mountain Rug Hooking Guild moved their rug show to November so I am hurrying to finish items for that show too...so it is pretty busy around Old Crow Farm these days. I hope everyone is having a lovely Autumn and enjoying the cooler temps. I have so much more energy when it is cool!!!!